Wind musical instrument



Sept. 15, 1931. J. A. MILETTE 1,823,838 1 WIND MUS ICAL INSTRUMENT Original Filed July 26. 1929 Inventor.

A l torncy Patented Sept. 15, 1931 PATENT OFFICE JOSEPH A. MILE'ITE, 07L MONTREAL, QUEBEC; CANADA WIND MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Application filed. July 26, 1929, Serial No. 381,271.

'1 1e present invention relates to improvements in wind musical instruments and has particular reterence to an instrument known as the slide trombone.

i An improtant object of the invention is the pro 'ision of a slide trombone equipped with a manually controlleo sliding tone interrupting device.

A further object of the invention is the 19 provision of an instrument of the above character having a valvular wind control member adapted to permit sharper cut-oil oi the wind and, consequently the notes produced by the instrument.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a slide trombone having a. wind control valve a1 ranged to be conveniently actuated by a finger of the musician for controlling the notes emitted from the instru- 20 ment.

Other objects and advantages of the invcntion will become apparent as the description progresses.

In the accompanying drawings forming a. part of this spc fication and in which like reference characters are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the instrument constructed in accordance with my invention Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of interrupting valve structure,

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 3 ll of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the interrupting valve mechanism,

F igure 5 is a transverse section taken on the line 5 5 of Figure 4 showing the valve in non-interruptii'ig position,

Figure (3 is a similar view showing the valve arranged in a cut-off position, and

Figure 7 is a transverse section taken on the line 77 of Figure 3.

Referr ng to the drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 10 generally designates the stationary portion of a common form of trombone L; which is of U-shaped form belled at one end Renewed March 11, 1931.

to form the horn 11. Associated with the section 10 is a U-shaped sliding section 12 having connection with the stationary portion adjacent a hand bar 13. In the longitudinal tube of the stationary portion 10 is mounted an annular valve casing 14 having outlet ports connecting with the tube.

Rotatably positioned within the casing 14 is a circular valve 15 formed with three radial ports or passages 16 extending from the peripheral edge and communicating at the centre, the passages being arranged at equidistantly spaced positions and disposed so that upon proper adjustment two of the passages will coincide with the, casing outlets to permit passage of the wind through the instrument and upon further adjustment will entirely block the passage, as shown in Figure 6, to cut otf the wind passage. The valve 15 is provided with a laterally extending spindle 17 projecting from the centre there of and extending through an aperture formed in the inner side of the casing.

Secured on the outer portion of the spindle 17 is a sleeve 18 having attached thereto a radially extending arm 19 disposed to move arcuately between a pair of arcuately spaced stops 20.

Pivotally connected with the wind tube of the instrument adjacent the hand bar 13 is an angular lever 21 carrying on its outer extremity a finger button 22. Attached to the inner end of the lever 21 is an angular bracket 23 laterally offset and having an arcuate arm 24 disposed adjacent to and at one side of the valve casing 14.

l/Vound about the sleeve 18, rigidly secured upon the spindle of the valve 15, is a flexible cord 25, one end being attached to one extremity ot the arm 24 While the opposed end is connected with the opposite extremity of the arm, shown to advantage in Figure 2.

The angular lever 21 is pivotally supported by means of a bracket 26 attached to the wind tube of the stationary trombone section 10 and holding in a transverse position a pivot pin about which is coiled a spring 27 attached to the lever and disposed to normally actuate the same so that the push button 22 will assume an extreme elevated position.

In use, one of the fingers of the operator, of the hand engaging the hand bar 13, is disposed in contact with the push button 22. As the instrument is being played, the musician mechanically controls the passage of wind through the outlet tube by manipulating the lever 21. When the lever is released, the valve is in open position and when the lever is entirely depressed the valve is likewise in open position. \Vhen the button 22 is depressed to an intermediate position, that is, between the extreme elevated and extreme depressed positions, the valve will be arranged in a cut-off position, the radial passages 16 thereof being disposed in registration with the covered portions of the valve casing. as shown in Figure 6.

By the use of this valvular control means, the musician is enabled to quickly and effectively interrupt the gliding tone produced by the instrument. Heretofore. this has been effected by stopping the inlet with the tongue. causing discomfort to the operator. Furthermore. the manually actuated control valve or gliding tone interrupter will permit more accurate and sharper cut-off of the various tones. greatly improving the quality of the music which may be produced by the instrument.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herein shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same. and that various changes as to the shape, size. and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

A slide trombone having a rotary wind control valve operatively mounted in the stationary wind tube thereof, a pivoted operating lever, means connecting said lever with the valve whereby the valve will be rotated upon pivoted adjustment of the lever from a normally open to a cut-off position, and spring means tending to normally urge the lever and valve to an open position. 7

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JOSEPH A. MILETTE. 

